ECS finalizes
district tax levy

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED — The Eldred Central School (ECS) Board on August 26 approved the tax levy for the upcoming 2002-03 school year.

ECS Superintendent Candace Mazur said the shift of the levy again went from Lumberland to Highland, but the disparity was not as bad as state equalization rates fell this year in both towns.

Tax bills on a $100,000 house will change as follows: in Highland taxes increase to $1,839.52 from $1,656.07 up 11 percent; in Lumberland taxes increase to $1,415.22 from $1,338.78, a 5.7-percent increase; in Tusten, taxes decrease to $1,631.47 from $1,656.07, a reduction of 1.4 percent; and in Deerpark the number is $2,044.45, up from $1988.06, a 2.8-percent increase.

Mazur said this will be the last year of the levy shift as a new law will take effect in 2003, removing the questionable land from the roll for purposes of state equalization. ECS will get its certified district, which will allow ECS to make one rate for both towns.